Results 14,741-14,760 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the disturbing reports of violence in Southeast Turkey, particularly in recent weeks. The security situation in the Southeast, which had gradually improved since 1999, has become increasingly difficult in recent months since the resumption of violence by the PKK, an organisation which appears on the EU list of terrorist organisations. This has led to frequent clashes between the...

Written Answers — Official Hospitality: Official Hospitality (16 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a stock of wine for use in relation to State and Official hospitality. There is significant saving to the tax payer in this direct purchase approach, as against sourcing wines for individual events through a caterer and being subject to a mark-up in the price. The range of wines in stock also facilitates choices being made that are suitable for...

Written Answers — Passport Statistics: Passport Statistics (16 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It is not possible to be precise about the number of Irish passports in circulation at any one time. However, as passports normally have a ten year validity, a relevant statistic is that between 1996 and 2005 over 4,650,000 passports were issued. But as passports (a) for children under three have only a 3 year validity and (b) between the ages of three and seventeen have a 5 year validity,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, which has an overall co-ordinating role in relation to EU matters, does not as a rule implement legislation designed to transpose EU measures into Irish law. The Department is not currently dealing with any such legislation. The Government is strongly committed to meeting the deadlines for transposition. The Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on European Union Affairs...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The following table sets out the names and the roles of staff currently employed by me. These officers are employed on a full-time basis under terms and conditions of employment set by the Minister for Finance. The appointments will terminate no later than the date on which I cease to hold this office. Personal appointees employed on contract by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Name...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application for Irish citizenship, through entry in the Foreign Births Register, by the person to whom he has referred has been approved. The certificate confirming the applicant's Irish citizenship will be issued by our Consulate-General in Chicago very shortly.

Written Answers — US Foreign Policy: US Foreign Policy (9 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have no information with regard to this allegation.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. On 6 April in Armagh, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair set out the Government's joint strategy for achieving a fully functioning Assembly and Executive in 2006. The strategy is founded on a shared conviction that devolved partnership government, as enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement, provides the best opportunity to create a...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The ongoing violence in the Darfur region of Sudan continues to be a matter of grave concern. Recent reports of an apparent offensive by the Government of Sudan and allied forces in the area around the town of Gereida in South Darfur are particularly alarming. It is clear that only an agreed political solution will lead to a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis in the region. Ireland,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of, and share the Deputy's concern at, the disturbing reports of violence in Southeast Turkey, particularly in recent weeks. The security situation in the Southeast, which had gradually improved since 1999, has become increasingly difficult in recent months since the resumption of violence by the PKK, an organisation which appears on the EU list of terrorist organisations. This has...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 269 together. The Government, in common with our partners in the European Union, believes that the US economic embargo on Cuba seriously hampers the economic development of Cuba and negatively affects its entire people. EU companies account for at least half of all Cuba's foreign trade, and the EU rejects unilateral measures against Cuba which are...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 274 and 275 together. The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. A panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta overturned the 2001 convictions on 9th August 2005 and ordered a retrial based on new evidence. The...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The number of EU measures transposed into Irish law in 2005 was 226.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is not party to either the Antarctic Treaty, or the Protocol to this Treaty known as the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection. The Antarctic Treaty was signed on 1 December 1959 in Washington on behalf of twelve states — Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR. The signature of the Treaty...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 276 together. I am aware that Mr. Luis Posada Carriles has been in US custody since May 2005 and that the US is seeking a country to which it can deport him. Furthermore, any issue between Italy and the US concerning Mr. Posada Carriles would be a bilateral matter between these two countries. I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to become...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Croatia in January, 1995 and our Ambassador to Slovenia is accredited there on a non-resident basis. Ireland is also represented by an Honorary Consul in Zagreb. The opening of further resident missions abroad, including in Croatia, is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The fees to be charged for passports are laid down by a Statutory Instrument [Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2005]. A person must be aged 65 years or above to be eligible to apply for a free passport. There is no provision in this Statutory Instrument to permit the Passport Office to waive the fee for persons aged less than 65 years. Apart from the legal dimension, the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has followed this case through the Embassy in Tel Aviv and in cooperation with EU partners. I understand that the person concerned was arrested on 23 May 2005. On 16 June, the Israeli authorities ordered his administrative detention for six months. This order was renewed for a further six months on 14 November 2005, but reduced to four months on review in December. On 20 March...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Consular facilities are available to all Irish citizens who live or travel abroad and who seek such assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs or any of our Missions abroad. In providing consular services, my Department is guided by a number of international instruments on human rights and consular relations. These prescribe the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (3 May 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The position is that a civil rather than a religious certificate is required for passport application purposes. However, I understand that the Passport Office is prepared to examine, in a sympathetic manner, any individual case where this may lead to particular difficulties.